subject: High Cholesterol [print this page] High Cholesterol High Cholesterol
Too much cholesterol in the blood, or high cholesterol, can be serious. People with high blood cholesterol have a greater chance of getting heart disease. High blood cholesterol on its own does not cause symptoms, so many people are unaware that their cholesterol level is too high.
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If you are 20 years or older, talk to your family doctor to see whether you should have your cholesterol tested. If you have no risk factors, routine screening usually begins at the age of 40 for men and 50 for women or earlier if they have stopped having regular menses.
How often you have your cholesterol level checked depends on your age, family history and what other risk factors for heart disease you have. If your cholesterol is up, your family doctor can also advise you when to have follow-up cholesterol levels done.
Cholesterol is carried by two types of proteins. A high level of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) increases the risk of heart disease because it leaves the fat on the inside walls of the blood vessels and deposits it in body tissues. You may have heard LDL referred to as the "bad cholesterol." The cholesterol carried by high-density lipoproteins (HDL) lowers your risk of heart disease, and is often called "good cholesterol." HDL actually helps your body get rid of cholesterol. Cholesterol is usually measured as total serum cholesterol. However, because the level of HDL cholesterol is so important, many doctors look at the ratio of the total cholesterol level to HDL cholesterol level to assess the risk of heart disease.
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